Canada’s data-centre industry must proceed with “conviction” rather than caution despite geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty, says a leading developer.

Billy Krassakopoulos, CEO of Enovum, made the comments at Connect’s North American Investment in Digital Infrastructure and AI conference in Montreal during a question-and-answer session with David Cervantes, vice-chairman of CBRE’s data-centre solutions beusiness.

“Geopolitical climate has always been there,” said Krassakopoulos, whose firm is based in Montreal. “It’s not going to change. There’s different levels and different waves. Critical infrastructure has always been important. It will always be important. We’re behind in the demands of all types of end users, all the demands that they have today.”

Despite economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, Krassakopoulos believes the digital-infrastructure sector must continue expanding rapidly to meet surging demand for cloud and computing capacity.

“The entire industry is behind,” he said. “The critical infrastructure that needs to be built out over the next couple of years is just to support the current demand.”

Speed as a Competitive Advantage

Accordingly, he regards speed to market as critical to a data centre’s success.

Krassakopoulos pointed to a recent project in Madison, N.C., as an example of how quickly data-centre developments now move. Enovum acquired an industrial facility with about 100 megawatts of available power and is converting it into a large data centre campus.

Billy Krassakopoulos

“We closed on that in August of 2025 and we’re going live in April of 2026,” he said.

The less-than-eight-month timeline from acquisition to operations reflects how quickly developers must now respond to client demand, he contended.

“Capacity and operations need to be up and running two or three times faster than what we’re traditionally used to,” he said.

Lessons From Failure

Krassakopoulos also shared insights on entrepreneurship, risk management and the rapid growth of the data-centre industry, drawing on his more than two decades of experience building digital infrastructure projects across North America.

“I’ve been in the data centre industry for over 20 years,” Krassakopoulos said. “Recently, I came out of the woodwork and back in the game with Enovum Data Centers. We went public on the NASDAQ in August 2025 and we’ve got a handful of projects that we’re developing across North America right now.”

Krassakopoulos said one of the most important realities for entrepreneurs is recognizing that failure is always a possibility.

“As an entrepreneur, sometimes blood, sweat and tears are just not enough,” he said. “Failure is always lurking around the corner and you need to be prepared.”

Preparation means anticipating challenges and mapping out possible outcomes in advance.

“Decision trees of all possible scenarios need to be pre-mapped,” he said. “Being ready for what’s around the corner and being three steps ahead of every possible scenario that can be thrown at you.”

Reputation and Relationships

Krassakopoulos highlighted two pieces of advice that shaped his approach to business.

The first is empathy in negotiations and project development.

“Always put yourself in other people’s shoes,” he said. “Whether it’s a client, a colleague, a contractor or an employee. To make a good deal happen, it’s not one person or one entity that accomplishes that—you really need a team around you.”

The second principle is protecting one’s professional reputation.

“Your reputation is everything,” he said. “Surround yourself with people who support you and will never tarnish your reputation that can be destroyed in a matter of seconds.”

Building Strong Teams

Developing and operating data centres requires a tight network of trusted partners and employees, Krassakopoulos said.

“As an entrepreneur you really need to build that inner circle,” he noted. “Once that circle starts growing, projects come to you more naturally and expansion becomes less daunting.”

Strong organizational culture and communication also allow leaders to delegate responsibility.

“Once you trust your people, you let them run with their projects,” he said. “Less micromanagement from the entrepreneur level is really important.”

Power and Supply Constraints

Access to electricity is the most pressing challenge facing data-centre developers, he said, noting that companies are increasingly looking across North America for locations where power is available in the near term.

Supply-chain challenges also persist for specialized infrastructure equipment, as manufacturers continue to deal with strong demand following pandemic-related disruptions.

Economic Impact

Large data-centre projects generate significant economic benefits beyond the facilities themselves, he said.

Based on his experience, operations typically create about a dozen direct jobs per megawatt of capacity, while construction activity can generate even larger employment impacts.

In North Carolina, more than 350 workers and contractors are already involved in building out Enovum’s project.

“What people fail to see is the surrounding effects—the trickle-down effects of that,” he said.

Quebec Firms Expanding Globally

Cervantes, who is based in Montreal, noted that Quebec-headquartered data-centre operators have emerged as influential players in the global digital infrastructure market.

The province’s early leadership in cloud infrastructure and renewable energy agreements has helped local companies compete internationally.

“Quebec operators punch above their weight class,” Cervantes said.

As demand for artificial intelligence, cloud services and digital connectivity continues to surge, Krassakopoulos said, the challenge for developers is no longer proving the market exists, but building capacity quickly enough to meet it.

“The demand is there,” he said. “The question now is how fast we can build.”

He and Cervantes were among many experts who shared their insights during the one-day event. Conference participants exchanged ideas and developed new strategies.

Expert speakers explored the Canadian digital-infrastructure landscape and revealed unique challenges and emerging opportunities. They highlighted how digital sovereignty increasingly shapes business strategy, how government and private sector leaders interact, and how power allocation affects domestic and global players. Speakers also tackled regulatory hurdles, ownership models, and the risks of overbuilding or technological obsolescence.

Panelists examined the shifting structure of major deals—especially with hyperscalers—and urged greater empowerment of Canadian vendors and operators. They advocated for stronger partnerships with local municipalities, faster regulatory approvals, and a deeper understanding of diverse data center models and their energy requirements. Lively comparisons between the Canadian and U.S. markets fuelled a forward-looking discussion on growth and sustainability in Canada’s digital infrastructure.

Pictured: Panelists at Connect’s North American Investment in Digital Infrastructure & AI conference in Montreal.